John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1](../02/01.md). AT: "my dear children in Christ" or "you who are as dear to me as my own children" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
Two possible meanings are 1) this refers to Satan. AT: "Satan, who is in the world" or "Satan, who works through those who do not obey God" or 2) this refers to worldly teachers. AT: "worldly teachers" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
The words "are from" are a metaphor for "receive their power and authority." "The world" is a metonym ultimately for "the one who is in the world," Satan, though it is also a metonym for sinful people who gladly listen to them and so also give them authority. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
"The world" here is a metonym ultimately for "the one who is in the world," Satan, though it is also a metonym for sinful people who gladly listen to them and so also give them authority. AT: "therefore they teach what they have learned from sinful people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
The words "the world" are a metonym for people who do not obey God. AT: "so the people who do not obey God listen to them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])